Knowledge Friday With Gem Fabricator John Hatleberg

The Church presents its second iteration of Knowledge Fridays with John Hatleberg, the world’s best counterfeiter of famous diamonds, speaking on Friday, December 17, at 6:30 p.m. Creating these incredible replicas for their owners or guardians, Hatleberg’s unique passion began at a young age while his mother was a documentary photographer for the Smithsonian’s gem collection. Now, Hatleberg works with world known gems such as the Hope Diamond amongst many others.

“Gems are primal, living, vital and seductive. They respond to human need eloquently,” Hatleberg says.

At The Church, Hatleberg will speak about his process replicating these natural phenomena, how he makes diamonds out of roses, and other related gem art projects.

Hatleberg has created exact replicas of famous diamonds since 1987. His replicas are visually indistinguishable from the original diamonds. Working with the actual gems, Hatleberg has created molds and/or replicas of the Hope, Centenary, Dresden Green, Eureka, Incomparable, Guinea Star, Portuguese, Blue Heart, Victoria Transvaal, Shah Jahan Table Cut, Excelsior I, McLean-Duchess of Windsor, Oppenheimer, Millennium Star, “Lili”, Pink Star, Heart of Eternity, Koh-i-Noor, Jonker, Light of Peace, Blue Lili, Wittelsbach-Graff, Winston-Berns, French Blue, Tavernier, and Okavango Blue Diamond.

His replica clients and partners include: Smithsonian Institution, the Natural History Museum London, the South African Government, the Government of Botswana, the Dresden Green Vaults, DeBeers, Harry Winston, Chopard, Cartier, Asprey, Thomas Farber, Laurence Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels

The Church is at 48 Madison Street in Sag Harbor. Proof of vaccination and masks are required to enter The Church. For more information visit thechurchsagharbor.org.